The printer also featured new software designed for users of all skill levels to print the more "complex, creative ideas."

What's wonderful about XYZprinting's machines is they're some of the lowest priced 3D printers on the market. The Pro is no different as it retails for $699. At that price point, the da Vinci Pro outperforms many other 3D printers that cost hundreds of dollars more -- at least in theory.

Size and features

At 18.4 x 22 x 20 in., the da Vinci 1.0 Pro 3D printer is going to devour your desktop space. It's the size of a decent-sized cathode-ray television set (if you can remember those) and it weighs about as much one at 57.4 lb.

XYZprinter's machines enclose their mechanics in attractive plastic cases, reducing noise and the smell of melting plastic from an extruder head.

Like XYZprinting's other 3D printers, the Pro uses sealed filament cartridges, which keep track of how much you use. I consider this a drawback because it's like having to purchase ink cartridges from traditional printer companies; you can't reload them yourself. In order to use third party filaments on the da Vinci Pro, you either have to order an open filament reel or print your own reel to hang on the machine.

The da Vinci 1.0 Pro supports both ABS and PLA filament from all sources, allowing users to print more materials. (ABS and PLA are the two most popular consumer-grade filaments.)

The da Vinci allows you to adjust the temperature settings for the extruder nozzle and aluminum print bed; as a result, it can use third-party filaments made of polymers with varying consistencies -- hard, soft or rubbery. It also has an auto-loading filament system that's supposed to ensure it loads correctly every time.

The 3D printed octopus. Credit: Lucas Mearian

In addition, the da Vinci features flexible printing preference settings in which users can adjust the printing temperature and speed for optimized print quality.

The Pro has a maximum build size of 7.8 x 7.8 x 7.8 in., which is at the upper end for a desktop printer. It also comes with some convenient features, such as an autoloading filament mechanism and Wi-Fi that supports both iPad and Android devices. (I would also have liked to be able to use it wirelessly with my MacBook Pro laptop, but so it goes.)